Let me show you a new way Chapter 056

What is a hero?

What is justice?

What is humanity?

“I am Batman…”

“I have a plan…”

“I will use myself as bait to attract Darkseid’s attention…”

“Supergirl, Bizarro, you two ambush him. Once Darkseid attacks me, you will suppress his movements.”

“Wonder Woman, help them both, provide as much support as possible. Make sure Darkseid cannot move.”

“Flash…”

“Run, with your fastest speed, no! Break through your fastest speed…”

“Run, Barry…”

“Run!”

***

“You are nothing but a robot, an experiment…” Darkseid looked at Batman, who fearlessly met his gaze.

“We are no longer robots, Darkseid…” Batman raised his head, his eyes filled with fearless self-sacrifice.

“You programmed us to be heroes, willing to risk our lives for others, and that is what a hero does.”

Batman looked at Darkseid. He did not hesitate, did not waver, and did not panic.

Even if his life was fake, even if his experiences were fabricated, even if his thoughts were copied from others, even if he was just a robot…

But at this time, this moment, this place!!!

He was a human.

He was a hero.

He was Batman…

“I’m Batman!”

Boom—

An Omega Beam struck him. Batman was powerless to resist and was instantly shattered by the beam.

But at that moment, two figures in Superman suits descended from the sky, firmly seizing Darkseid’s body, preventing him from moving.

Wonder Woman followed closely, unleashing all her divine power, striking Darkseid and leaving him dizzy and disoriented.

A moment later, Darkseid roared again, his eyes turning crimson. Two Omega Beams split and flew towards Supergirl and Bizarro. Wonder Woman, who was panting nearby, gritted her teeth and leaped up, blocking the immensely powerful Omega Beams with her wrists.

“Aaaah!!!” Wonder Woman let out a heart-wrenching scream. The power from the Omega Effect ignited the divine power within her, scorching her flesh and burning her soul.

She was ultimately consumed by the flames…

Her armor and battle skirt fell to the ground, emitting wisps of smoke.

The next moment, a fist enveloped in endless lightning struck Darkseid’s chest.

This power was so immense, so incredible, so uncontrollable. Supergirl and Bizarro felt an unprecedented pain. This power was far beyond what the Flash could control; they would be buried with Darkseid.

But the two heroes’ hands still firmly gripped Darkseid, controlling him to prevent any movement, their eyes fixed on the approaching light, as if looking towards heaven.

In a flash of light, Darkseid vanished from the world…

Along with him, Supergirl and Bizarro also disappeared.

“Did I save the world?”

“Yes, yes! You succeeded!”

“That’s good…”

“That’s good…”

***

Days later, peace returned to the world.

After Darkseid’s death, the Parademons worldwide fell into a panic. Darkseid’s subordinates lost the will to fight. They all retreated from Earth and returned to Apokolips.

Humanity rose from its pain, slowly licking its wounds and recovering. Although Apokolips had completely withdrawn, the destruction they caused would not simply disappear. Humanity was busy with reconstruction efforts.

But it had to be admitted that something was missing in people’s hearts.

The blue giant who flew around was no longer in the sky①, the red runner who sped through the streets was gone②, the green figure was absent from Coast City③, and even the golden-haired man was missing from the Curry Lighthouse in Amnesty Bay, unknown to most of America④. And under the night sky of Gotham City, Commissioner Gordon looked expectantly at the sky, but after a sigh, he could only turn off the nearby Bat-Signal⑤.

Metropolis, at the hero memorial service.

Lex Luthor stood before countless grieving citizens, slowly reading his eulogy.

One of his legs was injured, and his arm was in a cast, making him look miserable.

Days earlier, he had finally achieved his lifelong dream…

He had personally killed Superman.

A Superman who had been brainwashed and controlled by DeSaad, forever loyal to Darkseid. Lex, wearing Kryptonite armor, ended his life with a Kryptonite spear.

“We all know that Superman and I had some deep conflicts, and I always wanted to prove the greatness of humanity in front of Superman…”

Lex’s face wore a somber expression, and unexpectedly, it seemed remarkably genuine.

“But I never thought it would be this way. I wished humanity could break free from this guardian, but I forgot the hope and meaning that Superman’s symbol could bring…”

“Humanity has lost the god who always protected us. The Justice League sacrificed their lives in resisting the alien invaders!”

“Superman…”

“Supergirl…”

“Wonder Woman…”

“Batman…”

“Flash…”

“Green Lantern…”

“…”

Lex Luthor read the names on the list, pausing after each one, seemingly allowing the public to process the information.

“They are heroes, and they always will be!”

“But I believe that humanity will not be disheartened because of their loss…”

Lex Luthor suddenly raised his head, lifting his hand high and clenching it into a fist.

“I believe there will be more heroes in this world!”

“I believe that we humans will go further!”

“I believe that we will not betray their sacrifice…”

Below the stage, many citizens wept, looking at the coffins on display.

In Superman and Supergirl’s coffins lay their former red capes. Superman’s modified body had dissipated after death, while Supergirl died in the Speed Force storm while holding back Darkseid.

In Wonder Woman’s coffin lay fragments of her protective bracelets, as her body had been completely destroyed by the Omega Beam, and the remaining artifacts were transported back to Themyscira, her homeland.

In Batman’s coffin lay two Batarangs, one belonging to Batman and the other from the self-sacrificing mechanical Batman.

In the Flash’s coffin lay his portable ring for storing his suit.

In the Green Lantern’s coffin lay a completely damaged Green Lantern ring.

“Let us…”

“Mourn the heroes…”

Heroes fallen.

On a tall building in the distance, a boy wearing a black T-shirt with a red S on his chest watched the funeral proceedings, then soared into the sky.⑥

A woman with golden-red, waist-length hair, tied into a single ponytail pointing upwards, held Wonder Woman’s equipment and arrived at the mysterious Themyscira.⑦

In distant Gotham City, Selina Kyle stood atop a gargoyle, just as her husband had done long ago. The Bat-cape behind her fluttered wildly in the strong wind as she overlooked the city’s crime. She was no longer a cat; she would transform into a bat, into…

A Huntress!⑧

And in Central City, a red-haired boy wearing a golden suit with a lightning bolt emblem on his chest darted through the streets.⑨

Heroes will be reborn.

①: Superman

②: Flash

③: Green Lantern

④: Aquaman

⑤: Batman

⑥: Superboy, design and setting based on pre-Flashpoint.

⑦: Artemis, an Amazon.

⑧: Catwoman in a new Bat-suit, acting as Batwoman, and the final “Huntress” hints at the future hero name of Catwoman and Batman’s daughter, Helena Wayne, the Huntress.

⑨: Kid Flash, Wally West. In the comics, after the death of Barry Allen, he inherited the name Flash.

By the way… when I wrote this chapter, I completely forgot about Aquaman, just as I previously forgot about Martian Manhunter.